A former Yale University student who was suspended amid allegations of sexual misconduct is suing the school, seeking monetary damages for breach of contract, emotional and psychological trauma, economic losses and losses of career opportunities, along with a declaratory judgment reinstating him as a student.
The plaintiff, referred to as John Doe in court documents filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, claims Yale took actions against him in response to false allegations of groping two fellow Yale students, known as Jane Roe and Sally Roe, and for “creating a hostile academic environment” for Jane Roe.

Doe claims Yale discriminated against him on the basis of sex, in violation of his Title IX rights. He also claims the school violated its own policy by not adhering to a “clear” preponderance of evidence against him.

Last Dec. 27, Doe was banned from Yale's campus, according to a lawsuit filed by attorneys from New York firm Nesenoff & Miltenberg and Connecticut attorney William B. Bilcheck Jr. The plaintiff's suspension was connected to three separate events with instances of alleged groping in June and November of 2016, which he claims the college did not properly investigate.

“It is uncontroverted that Jane Roe and Sally Roe are longtime friends. It is further uncontroverted that Jane Roe actively sought to recruit other women to file complaints against Plaintiff,” the lawsuit states, adding that the two complaints were filed “only minutes apart,” on Sept. 18, 2017, “alleging an incident from nearly a year prior.”

The allegations against John Doe stem from a student trip to Paris and two bus rides to university events in which the female students alleged he groped either their buttocks, upper thigh, breast or side of breast. John Doe denies all allegations and alleges unfair and prejudicial treatment during the investigation and hearing phases of a University Wide Committee on Sexual Misconduct that was held in response to the alleged incidents. During the hearing, the plaintiff alleges, the complainants were sending text messages to each other “while listening live to each other's testimony.”

John Doe notes that he appealed the decision on Jan. 3, alleging procedural errors and denial of his due-process rights during investigation. He notes that his suspension for two semesters equates allegations of groping “(brief contact with clothing”) with discipline handed down for more serious incidents involving three other students who received the same punishment for sexual penetration without consent.

Doe cites Yale for “flagrant violations” of its own policies and claims a fact-finding investigation was biased against him.

Doe's lawsuit notes his appeal of the university's decision was denied Jan. 12.